WHAT ARE SOME DISADVANTAGES OF MILK?

Hormones

Many dairy farmers include added hormones in the diets of their milk-producing cows. These hormones are meant to increase milk production so that farmers are able to supply a larger quantity of milk to consumers. There are dangers associated with these hormones, according to an article in the Harvard University Gazette, and high doses have even been linked to hormone-related cancers of the breast, prostate and testes. The hormones in cow's milk are thought to be particularly damaging to females because they contain such high doses of estrogenlike chemicals.

Allergies

Individuals with a milk allergy can have a range of negative symptoms when consuming milk, as well as products made from milk such as cheese and yogurt. According to the Mayo Clinic, milk allergies are the most commonly diagnosed allergies among children. The immediate symptoms of a milk allergy are hives, wheezing and throwing up, but diarrhea, abdominal pain, rash and a runny nose can appear later. Many children outgrow their milk allergy by age 3, but some allergies are lifelong and symptoms can only be eliminated by avoiding cow's milk.

Saturated Fat

Unless you drink skim milk, your glass of milk will contain some saturated fat. A 1-cup serving of 2 percent milk contains 4.83 g of total fat, with 3 g being saturated. A 1-cup serving of whole milk has 7.93 g of total fat, 4.5 g saturated. The Mayo Clinic recommends limiting your intake of saturated fat because it can increase your cholesterol levels, as well as raise your risk for heart disease and Type 2 diabetes.

Mucus

Drinking cow's milk can lead to an overabundance of mucus throughout your body. A buildup of excess mucus can aggravate already existing allergies, such as hay fever. Excess mucus may also contribute to sinusitis, nasal stuffiness and a runny nose, Beverly Lynn Bennett and Ray Sammartano write in their book, "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Vegan Living." Ongoing problems with excess mucus may lead to an increase in how often you suffer from colds, ear infections and asthma symptoms.

References

• MayoClinic.com; Milk Allergy; August 2009
• "Harvard University Gazette"; Hormones in Milk Can Be Dangerous; Corydon Ireland; December 2006
• "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Vegan Living"; Beverly Lynn Bennett and Ray Sammartano; 2005
• U.S. Department of Agriculture Nutrient Database: Nutrient Data Laboratory

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